While a modern progressive rock band may have been the band’s influence back in 2006, after primary songwriter and bassist Ryan Johnson took a closer look into the genre of world music, his sound quickly evolved into an experimental, Latin and Afro/ Cuban groove machine.

“When the band started in 2006 it was a very different band,” Johnson said. “I wanted to play crazy prog-rock like the Mars Volta — I was writing that stuff. But as the band came together I realized the magical thing about Mars Volta wasn’t the prog rock elements, it was the subtle Latin influences they incorporated into each song. When I realized that, it suddenly took me down a road of Afro-Cuban music.” Since then, the band, which also includes John Gapp (vocals), Andrew Cooper (sax), Brent Clore (sax), Ian Hudson (percussion), Ryan Jurado (drums), Jake McCarthy (guitar) and Eric Wolf (violin), has played over 30 shows. It is set to release its second album, “After Silence … II,” on Saturday, Jan. 16 at Basement 414 in Lansing.

While Kinase may be known locally for its danceable percussion and extended solos, the lyrical content adds another layer to an already complex unit. “When the band first started, we decided we wanted to do a concept album,” Johnson explained. “We wanted to talk about eugenics (permitting reproduction of only those people with genetic characteristics judged desirable), but not from just one side that thought it was horrible — what if it wasn’t horrible?”

Gapp began penning odd lyrics about human factories and manufacturers. In his song "The Future of Ladders," Johnson said Gapp explored "the idea (of eugenics) from the prospective of a company and how they would profit from the idea of manipulating and making ‘better’ people."

“‘Fluid Suspension’ is a song written from the perspective of a facility that makes perfect people, so it’s talking about an assembly line of vials and test tubes.”

Complexity aside, Johnson said he hopes his songs have a simple effect on listeners.

“I hope they hear something that makes them want to dance. I think lately that has been happening more and it makes me really happy,” he said. “Our live shows make people want to dance, but at the same time it’s complex dance music. It’s not just simple beats, there is something going on underneath.”

Kinase Moves the Audio

CD release show @ Basement 414

414 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing 7 p.m., all ages, donation only w/ Treet Hut Kings, Raisins of Acquired Taste www.myspace.com/ kinasemovestheaudio2